Can-top and the like



J. P. EULBERG.

CAN TOP AND THE LIKE. APPt-ICATION FILED APR.9.1919

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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CAN TOP AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1919.

parts.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

J'OHN I. EULBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK W.

WITTENMEIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

CAN-TO]? AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 9, 1919. Serial No. 288,793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. EULBERG,

a citizen of the United States, residing at down at the edges to embrace the proximate edges of the body, the two being secured together with solder or equivalent material. In cans having liquid contents, it is common to punch a hole in the canttop at some suitable point andpour the liquid out. Such of course, however, is usually unsanitary and unsatisfactorv for the reason that the liquid will work along the top of the can and from thence over the' edge and down the side, ultimately reaching the bottom where it is conveyed to whateverpart the can is placed upon, spotting the cloth or the dish in which the can may be placed, leaving a portion at the top which changes with atmospheric, conditions, and leaving an opening in the can which permits the admission of atmosphere and a modification of the contents. Also if the pouring opening is not close to the edge, it is almost impossible to completely empty the can, leaving a portion therein which is lost.

Cans for such use, are such as those used for evaporated cream, syrup, oils, and various liquids of that type. i

The object of my invention is to provide a novel top-which without materially increasing the cost of the can or top, will largely obviate the diflioulties referred to. To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,'wherein like. reference characters indicate like or corresponding Figure 1 is a perspective view of the common type of milk or cream cans embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view trating mv invention; Fig.3 is a diagram illustrating the manher in which circular can tops are laid "out of said top, illususe, and 2 the top,

and stamped from the sheet, and showing that the inclusion of my improved top is gained without the loss of. material;

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating another method of laying out the can tops on the sheet;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the applicationof my improved top to a so-called square can, and including an improvement as to the opening therein;

Fig. 6 is an' enlarged view of the spout and indicated opening, showing one means of forming the opening; I

Fig. 7 isa view similar to Fig. 6 showing a slight modification;

Fig. 8 is a section substantially on line 88 of F ig. 6, illustrating a cork in position in the opening; and

Fig. 9 illustrates the method of laying out the square can top above on the sheet, showing how the spout may be'provided without loss of material.

In the drawings, 1 represent an ordinary cylindrical or circular can in general which is flanged down in the usual manner at the periphery as at 3to embrace the-top of the'body 1 to which it is secured with solder in the usual manner. sheet, usually lead to loss and Waste at the interstices between the adjacent circular portions. I employ this usually waste material by forming it into an extension 4, which ultimately forms the spout. After the body Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

These tops 2, when laid outupon the I the part 5 and given a slight spout curve as,

indicated. This forming is all done upon the dies with but slight change from the present. method to provide for the spout. At the same time and for the class of cans in which liquids are usually employed, I prefer to indicate a point in close proximity to the spout at which the top should be punched for pouring purposes. This is also done in the dies. and is indicated in close relation to the position of the spout as at 7. A second depression as at 8 may also be indicated, where a slight puncture for the admission of air will insure a free pouring It is obvious in the first place that there is no increase in the cost of material for the reason that the spout is made-out of that portion of the material that is now abcular can tops may. be laid out on the sheet in what is known as the staggered form, while in Fig. 4 they are laid out in what is known as the square form. In each method there is always a loss of material in the interstices between the circular tops, al-

though in the square form of lay-out it is believed that there is less such waste. However that may be, it is immaterial so far as my invention is concerned, as to which method may be employed.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, 9 indicates the so-called square can, and 10 the top thereof. The method of laying the same out is illustrated in Fig. 9, where it will be seen that owing to the circular or rounded corners of the can, sufficient material is found for the spout 11, so that again there is no waste in taking the whole sheet into consideration. In this case also, the edges are flanged downward as at 12, including that portion in proximity to the spout being marked 13. and the reverse bend marked 14. The'operation of forming up the flange is the same asheretofore described.

The improvement as to the opening which may be desirable in larger cans in which the entire contents are not removed at once, although it is also adaptable for use in smaller cans where they are not entirely emptied at one use, consists inindicating the opening corresponding to the opening 7 as at 16. In the form shown in Fig. 6, the said depression is constructed to be readily opened or out along lines 17 extending radiallyfrom the center 18. Thisforms segments 19 which are bent inward from the marginal edges of the opening, forming retaining walls for a cork or compressible closure 20. The thin wall of tin or metal top 10. unless reinforced. is too thin to suitably support a cork which it thereby allows to swing ortilt on the top. In the form'shown, the cork is retained sufiiciently for practical purposes and may be removed and replaced anv number of times. This form is particularly adaptable in the use of oil cans and larger cans containing any material which is emptied graduallyand by a series of operations.

As shown in Fig. 7 the point from which the diverging lines extend is not in the center of the opening, serving to support the cork more firmly on one side than the other, and is preferred where the can 15 large and may be carelessly handled. The proximity of the side wall of the can on the spout side tends to aid in supportin that side. k

While my invention rests in the peculiar can top with the integral spout as stated, the improvement in the opening shown in Figs. 5 to 8, is an independent invention well adapted for use with my improved top. It is apparent that the entire structure can be very economically constructed, and effectively obviates the disagreeable features referred to as in pouring the liquidover the spout, any'remaining therein is drained back into the can, and in no case will it flow over and down the sideof the can upon thetable or support of the can. a

I- aving thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A can top or the like comprising an integral sheet conforming to the body of the can and provided with a marginal spout ex-v Y tension, the periphery of the top-including the part carrying the extension being flanged downward to embrace the top edges of the body, said extension then being reversely bent and lying in proximity to the flange,

and slightly curved to form a spout.

2. A can top or the like comprising an integral sheet conforming to the body of the can and provided with a marginal spout extension, the periphery of the top including the part carrying the extension being flanged downward to embrace the top edges of the body, said extension then being reversely bent and lying in close proximity to the flange, and an indicating mark close to the edge and-in alinement with the spout,

vmarking the spot where the can is to be opened for pouring the contents out. 3. A can top or the like formed by stampng from a single integral sheet, said can .top conforming to the body of the can and provided with a marginal spout extension, the periphery of the top including the part carrying said extension being flanged downward to embrace the top edges of the body, said extension being reversely bent and lying in close proximity to the flange, and an indicating mark close to the edge and in linement with the spout, said indicating Lessee? mark being formed by stamping a part of the material of the top from the surface plane of the top and marking the spot Where the can is to be opened for pouring out the contents.

' 4:. A can top formed by stamping from a single integral sheet, said can top conforming to the body of the can and provided With amarginal spout extension, the pe riphery of the top including the part carrying the extension being flanged downward to embrace the top edges of the body, said extension then being. reversely bent and lying in. roximity to the flange and slightly curved to form a spout, the spout lying to 15 one side of the can body and having its inlet substantially flush with the outer surface of the can top.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub 20 scribing witnesses.

JOHN P. EULBERG.

Witnesses 1 JOHN'VV. HILL, CHARLES I. COBB. 

